Local Farms and Zoos in Hamilton and Halton – Places to See and Feed Animals

Active Parents is here to help fill your summer vacation with fun. We are putting together ideas for day trips to keep the whole family entertained. We’ll cover local and short-distance jaunts, and we hope you’ll suggest some fun stops, too! This week we bring you destinations fit for the Animal Lover in your house. My youngest is besties with everything four-legged, so this list was an easy one to put together. 

where to see animals Near Burlington and hamilton

Kids will glow when they get to see some local and exotic animals and insects on your visit to these places. Visit one or all of them! Remember to bring your summer essentials: sunscreen, bug spray, a hat, and a water bottle. 

Opening gates at Brantford Zoo

Brantford Twin Valley Zoo – Brantford

This local fave is perfect for families, and we loved that it was just the right size to see in its entirety, in one day. You’ll be up close and personal with lions, tigers, and – you guessed it – bears. Oh my! Read about our first visit here.

Bronte Creek Park rabbits and animals

Bronte Creek Provincial Park – Oakville

Bronte Creek is a real working farm, and is home to goats, cows, chickens, rabbits, pond animals, and more! Spring is a perfect time to visit because new animals, like chicks, are a-plenty! See our video tour here.

Triple C Farm header image

Triple C Farm – Ancaster

Triple C Farm is a small, family-run, rescue farm and sanctuary that offers a fully interactive petting zoo, birthday parties, goat yoga, Movies with the Animals, and much more!

African Lion Safari

African Lion Safari – Cambridge

1,000 animals and over 100 species that can be pet, watched, and even viewed from your own car is what you have waiting for you!

bird kingdom niagara falls

Bird Kingdom – Niagara Falls

Billed as the world’s largest free-flying indoor aviary, you’ll see more bird species than you knew existed, feed bats and lorikeets, and much more! Located in Niagara Falls.

Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory

Butterfly Conservatory – Cambridge

Experience a tropical oasis right in the city when you visit the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory. 25,000 square feet of year-round indoor tropical paradise and home to thousands of butterflies, birds, fish, amphibians and insects.

donkey sanctuary of canada

Donkey Sanctuary of Canada – Puslinch (near Guelph)

Visit with over 90 donkeys and mules, and learn about the care and rehabilitation of the Guelph farm residents. Rave reviews from animal lovers and families who visit.

happy rolph's animal sanctuary

Happy Rolph’s Bird Sanctuary and Children’s Petting Farm

Petting zoo, large playground, beautiful walk, and very scenic. We went a few summers ago and the kids loved it. Located in St. Catherines.

little rays logo

Little Rays Reptile Zoo and Nature Centre – Hamilton

There’s a good chance your kid has been to a Little Rays birthday party, but did you know they also have a reptile zoo open for visiting? Get a chance to feed the animals, while getting a little education, too. We love local family road trips!

horse from mountsberg conservation area

Mountsberg Conservation Area – Campbellville

It’s super close, and perfect for your little fan of feathered friends. Watch entertaining shows (they’re educational, too!) plus, tour the site and check out all of the animals they have in addition to birds of prey.

Puddicombe Farms – Hamilton

This farm has been around for over 220 years! It’s a great spot for train rides, animal watching, and picking your own fresh produce. A definite must-do for a day of fun.

springridge farm in milton

Springridge Farm – Milton

A local favourite with something for everyone. Mountain goats, a petting barn, fluffy bunnies, and who doesn’t love Rocky Rooster? Psst, try their strawberry tarts, too.

Killman Zoo – Caledonia

This rural zoo is located 2km east of Highway 6 at 237 Unity Road East. It is a privately owned and operated zoo using 9acre of trails on a property spanning 33acre. Tamer animals like dwarf goats and deer can be petted by people of all ages at the special petting zoo portion of the attraction. People with wheelchairs are able to access the sights with wheelchair-accessible trails. The Killman family that operates the zoo is descended from the Seneca, Onandaga and Mohawk Tribes of the Canadian First Nations.

Ostrichland – West Lincoln

Book your experience online. Pick from Farm Tour, Brunch & Tour or Dinner & Tour and Ostrich Feeding, or reserve an ostrich egg. In our admission includes guided tour, visit rest of the animals on the farm, staying on the farm for having picnic etc. Our friendly tour guides will take you for a visit to an incubator room at our farm (subject of availability); you can say hello to the youngest chicks, some only a few days old (subject of availability), in our kindergarten area; feed the year-old teenage group and meet our breeder’s family. Tour duration is 1.5 hours. After the tour is completed, the visitors can stay and enjoy the farm.

Do you have a favourite destination to see animals? Tell us in the comments, and be sure to let us know if we missed one so we can add it to this list! 

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